Based upon the company's website, Harlan originally had a sheep and wool business before and simply carried over the name of the company in 1980. When Farmer Brown made his first ball of yarn, held it up and called it "Top of the Lamb". This single ply wool yarn was expressly designed and dyed in colors that could be woven in rugs by the Navajo Nation. If you have ever had the privilege of owning a rug from the Navajo Nation there is a good chance that it was woven from Top of the Lamb!